Tawau Hills Park — Attraction in Borneo

Tawau Hill Park is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Tawau or Semporna, particularly for day campers seeking an immersive experience in nature. This natural gem offers an escape into the beauty of untouched wilderness, providing a serene and refreshing retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The park is home to the world's tallest tropical tree, a remarkable wonder that draws nature enthusiasts and photographers from around the globe. This towering giant, alongside diverse flora and fauna, makes the park a paradise for those passionate about wildlife and plant life.

Affordable accommodation options within the park allow visitors to enjoy an extended stay without breaking the bank. Whether you're looking to camp under the stars or stay in comfortable lodges, Tawau Hill Park offers facilities catering to various preferences and budgets.

Some trails, however, could benefit from higher maintenance to ensure safety and enhance the hiking experience. Still, the paths that are well-maintained lead to breathtaking viewpoints, crystal-clear streams, and even a majestic waterfall. These features make the park ideal for both adventure seekers and those looking to relax amidst nature.

While the park features a hot spring area, it may not meet everyone's expectations and could be seen as a bummer by some visitors. Despite this, the overall experience at Tawau Hill Park is enriched by its natural beauty and tranquility.

In summary, Tawau Hill Park is an exceptional destination that promises a memorable experience filled with natural beauty, peace, and adventure. With the world's tallest tropical tree and other natural wonders, it's a perfect addition to your travel itinerary when visiting Tawau or Semporna, especially for those who enjoy day camping in a stunning...

Despite the fact that Tawau city (the 3rd largest city in Sabah) has nothing to offer to its visitors, there is a different story when we talk about Tawau Hills Park

• Comparing to other parks in Sabah, this is one of the least touristic as it's a bit more remote and far from the other famous POIs, giving you the opportunity to have the trails all by yourself

• Located ~22km away from Tawau city it can be reached by car in about 30 minutes. There is no public transportation, so you must use a Grab or Maxim

• The park has a wide range of accommodation, including dorms from 25 RM per night (book directly with the park, not available on Agoda, Booking). As there weren't any tourists, I had a 4 bed room just by myself with a nice balcony. You can also camp if you have your own equipment

• The park's entrance fee is 20 RM per foreign adult and 8 RM for locals. The ticket counter is open from 8am - 4pm, daily

• There is a canteen on site, open from morning till evening. Basic and affordable meals available

• The main attractions of the park 》Botanical garden 》The world's tallest tropical tree 88.32m!!! ⭐ 》Galas waterfall 2.4 km 》Sulphur hot spring 3.2 km 》Mt. Lucia 13.25 km (one way) 》Mt. Magdalena 17 km (one way)

• You must write down your itinerary before starting your trekking at the ranger gate. They can all be done without a guide

• If it rains it gets pretty bad and slippery. I got some heavy rain during my hike and my boots were literally under water

• I didn't encounter any leeches around the closest paths! I spotted some very cute insects instead

• You can cool down in the river after the hike as many locals do

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We only were at the southern/lower part of Tawau Hills Park. Where they have their office and facilities.

We've been to the highest tropical tree, the botanical garden and to the waterfalls. It's lovely to walk around: we saw many insects, mystical-looking trees and also red leaf monkeys. The paths are all managed and quite easy to walk. There's signs where and how far to walk to all sights.

Make sure you bring proper shoes or in best case hiking boots. Especially the trek to the Gelas Waterfall has its steep ascendts/descents 200m before getting to the waterfall. Some locals are doing it barefoot or in flip-flops, but also had their difficulties with mud and slippery stones/branches.

The entrance fee for international adults is RM20 and you pay it at the entrance gate. You get there with a Maxime Taxi or Grab, from Tawau town within ~25-30min.

I highly reccommend to arrange the return trip yet on the way to the park, maybe asking the driver if he can pick you up for a fix price. Alternatively you might be waiting for a Maxime Taxi for 30-60min and you might to bid a little higher price (+5-10RM) so that a driver is willing to drive from town to the park and back.

At weekend there's much more locals in the park, for swimming under the waterfall snd especially for barbecue and picknick near the park entrance area, which is also quite nice.

The park opening hours are 08:00am to 04:00pm. After 03:30pm people are disappearing quickly and you may only see local residents and kids. And many monkeys (macac). I reccommend going back to town latest around...